The objective of the FBI Citizens Academy is to increase public awareness about the FBI, its mission, its activities, and its people; to provide an avenue for the FBI to hear and respond to community issues and concerns; and to strengthen relationships and improve understanding between the FBI and the communities it serves.

Who Can Attend

Candidates are nominated by Bureau employees or previous Academy graduates, and are selected for admission by the SAC. To be eligible for consideration, nominees must meet the following criteria:

Must be a business, civic, religious, or community leader

Must be at least 21 years old (with no prior felony convictions)

Must live or work in the jurisdiction of the field office

Must undergo a background check and obtain an interim security clearance

When Is It

The Citizens Academy holds two classes per year:

Fall - Birmingham

Spring - Huntsville

Each class consists of eight class sessions and a graduation ceremony and reception. Each session is approximately two hours long.

Who Teaches

The sessions are taught by the Special Agent in Charge and his senior managers and agent experts.

What is the Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to provide participants with an inside look at the FBI. Topics include:

Terrorism

Violent Crimes

White Collar Crimes

Cyber Crimes

Legal Issues

Firearms Safety

Hands-on exercises with the Field Intelligence Group (FIG) and the Evidence Recovery Team (ERT)

For More Information

To learn more about the FBI Citizens Academy, visit the FBI's website.

The
FBI Birmingham Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBICAAA) is a nonprofit
organization separate and apart from the FBI.